Anti-Capitalist Studies 101: Feminist Approaches [4-weeks, $200 Suggested]

[This course was previously called “Anti-Capitalist Feminisms”]

Instructor: Andrews | Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 PM | September 6-27

Many of us increasingly feel as though our lives are overtaken by the demands of consumerism, the expectations of emotional labor, and endless housework. Why are we so compelled to spend money and take on debt, while simultaneously doing so much unpaid labor? And why is that burden placed most strongly on feminized and marginalized groups? In fact, the origins of capitalism depended on the invention of waged labor, and the simultaneous devaluation and feminization of care work and domestic labor, which are often unwaged. Critiquing and opposing capitalism, then, is fundamentally a feminist issue! And yet the dominant model of feminism in the US is liberal feminism, which Nancy Fraser has described as the “handmaiden” of capitalism—a mode of feminism that calls for, say, more CEOs (“lean in!”) rather than the abolition of corporate wealth and income inequality. How is this possible? And how can we work against complicity in our own exploitation? In this four-week theory seminar, we will learn about and discuss theoretical concepts that inform our capacities to critique capitalism, such as feminization, primitive accumulation, alienation, surplus value, ideology, and class struggle. And we will read and discuss important feminist texts that analyze the incompatibility of feminism and capitalism, while simultaneously addressing the intersections of capitalism with other modes of domination, such as patriarchy and white supremacy. Authors read will include: Marx & Engels, Rosa Luxemburg, Alexandra Kollontai, Selma James, Silvia Federici, Cheryl Harris, Angela Davis, Assata Shakur, Shulamith Firestone, Nancy Fraser, Tithi Bhattacharya, and Cinzia Arruzza.

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For each class, four (4) full tuition scholarships and five (5) 80% tuition scholarships are available. Due to limited scholarship funds, we are currently only able to offer one class per term at the full scholarship level to any individual student—if you need a full scholarship, please sign up for the class you most want to take and email us to waitlist for any additional classes. We will add you when funds become available. Direct student donations are a crucial aspect of our funding model, and without them, we are not able to pay instructors a living wage. We encourage you to pick the payment tier that corresponds with your needs, but ask that you please consider our commitment to fair labor practices when doing so. If the scholarship tier you need is sold out or you would like to pay tuition on an installment basis, please email us directly, and we will work with you.

If at any point up to 48 hours before your first class session you realize you will be unable to take the class, please email us and we will reallocate your funds to a future class, to another student’s scholarship, or refund it. After classes begin, we are only able to make partial refunds and adjustments.